Anglican
Diocese
with the
of CHRISTCHURCH
ABOUT
Warm greetings from all of us at Sister Eveleen Retreat House.
We are a Christian retreat house nestled among native trees and beach flora on Scarborough Hill, Sumner, Christchurch.
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It is our ministry to offer and hold a sacred space for you —
a place to reflect, rest, pray, or simply be.
Whether you are here for a retreat, a self-guided stay, or with a group,
... you are welcome.
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St Francis Chapel, located on-site, is always open for prayer and quiet reflection.
Our beautiful gardens offer another space to pause and enjoy God’s presence.
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Sister Eveleen Retreat House belongs to the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch —
yet everyone is welcome to visit and spend time in prayer and contemplation.
Our mission is to continue Sister Eveleen’s dream:
to offer her home as a place where people can replenish their spirit
and immerse themselves in God’s loving presence.
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Sister Eveleen Retreat House is a house of prayer and spiritual support.
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Here is what our guests say...​
If you haven’t visited us yet,
this short clip will take you up the hill and give you a glimpse of our special place.
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We are looking forward to welcoming and hosting you!​​​
OUR ROOMS
SERH offers 11 beds in 8 rooms, each offering a range of accommodation choices and prices all with heating. All rooms at our inspiring retreat are warm and inviting with captivating views of sky and sea. Each room has a tranquil and cozy atmosphere, facilitating your refreshing spiritual retreat.
All rooms can also be booked
for day stays (NZ$30)
Please get in touch with us via email
Sister Eveleen Ministry and Services
Sister Eveleen Ministry
&
St. Francis Chapel
The chapel is a quiet, reflective space for prayer and small gatherings
and open for all guests.
During the week we have regular
Prayers Times
Monday & Tuesday
Contemplative midday prayer, 12o'clock
Thursday
Celtic Christian Service , 12 o'clock
These are open to the public.
Everyone is welcome to join in.
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Our beautifully hand made prayer stools in our Chapel are crafted from original Sister Eveleen Retreat House weather board or Rimu by Dugald Wilson from our Board.
They are availablefor $40 Koha - please get in touch​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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House Team
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Hannah Frauenstein
Resident Host
Our Resident Host is the soul of Sister Ev and offers hospitality to our individual guests who come here to stay and seek peace and refreshment.
Sandi Hall
Temporary Resident Host until August
Antje Duda
Director
Antje looks after the bookings, planning and the calm running of the annual programme of the house.
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Spiritual Direction
Spiritual direction for individual guests and for groups can be arranged
upon request.
You will be given wisdom and guidance by our qualified spiritual directors, facilitating
your spiritual retreat.
Just get in touch with us.
Our garden​
The garden is beautifully situated on Scarborough hill overlooking the sea. It offers many spots for quiet meditation and prayer. While bookings are in place, the garden is a private space for all guests.
​Book Sister Eveleen
for your next team retreat, parish group meeting, etc.​
You can book the whole house for a day
or with overnight stay (11 beds in 8 rooms). Enjoy with your team the peace and beauty at Sister Eveleen.
Whole house bookings are self-catered and -guided and have the use of all facilities.
Please get in touch via email or phone to enquire for a whole house booking.
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Day Retreats for yourself​
You can book a room for the day!
Have your self-guided and -catered retreat and enjoy our peaceful space.
Please get in touch via email or phone to arrange a day that suits you.
Kitchen
Our kitchen is available for your use at any time during your stay.
This includes oven, stove, microwave, fridge, freezer and cutlery, crockery and cooking equipment. We also have a verietry of teas and coffees.
Individual guests have now the option of booking a breakfast.
(All other meals are self-catered.)
Group bookings are self-catered.
Retreats are usually fully-catered, unless otherwise stated.
Housekeeping
Every room has linen and towels .
Before and after use, the retreat room will be cleaned by our staff. ​
GALLERY
THINGS TO DO
Nature walks
There are many coastal walks easily accessible from the house. Scarborough to Taylor’s Mistake, Flowers Track, and the Esplanade are some.
Sumner Beach
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Below the house lies Sumner Beach. The beach is a great place to walk, run, swim or relax on a nice day.
Water Sports
Sumner beach is a great place to try out a range of different water sports. There is often good swell for surfing and SUP boarding as well kayaking and even sailing.
Sunday Market
The Sumner Market is held every Sunday from 10am - 2pm, on the corner of Marriner Street and the Esplanade. It is a great place to explore some cool craft stalls, food trucks and meet some locals!
Local Cafes
In Sumner Village there are plenty of great cafes to enjoy good food and coffee. Some of these include: Dot Com, Utopia Ice and Joe's Garage.
Christchurch City
Just a 20 minute drive, (25min by bus) away is Christchurch city.
The city is a great place to learn more about the history of New Zealand, shop, see the sights and explore in a more urban environment.
GUEST REVIEW
AVAILABILITY CALENDAR
ACCESS DISCLOSURE
SERH is a very secluded retreat, which unfortunately means that there is limited vehicular access.
Cars should be parked beside the Scarborough pool (Marked on map below), as there is no parking or easy drop off access at SERH. From there, getting to SERH involves a ten minute uphill walk from the Scarborough pool, and then a short walk up a steep uneven zigzag path that is not wheelchair friendly.
We are well accessible by public transport, foot or bike.You will receive a detailed access map before your arrival.